Subject-Verb Agreement: Basic Rules with Simple Examples

What is Subject–Verb Agreement?

Have you ever heard someone say:

❌ She go to school every day.
Something feels wrong, right?

That is because the subject (she) and the verb (go) do not match.
In English grammar, the subject and verb must agree — like best friends who always match each other.

This rule is called:

SUBJECT–VERB AGREEMENT

It simply means:

The verb must match the subject in number (singular/plural) and person (I/You/He/She/They).

You use this rule every single day — when speaking with friends, writing homework, messaging online, or telling a story.
If you learn it well today, you will speak and write better English for life!

Definition (Multiple Simple Ways)

Let’s understand the meaning clearly:

Simple Definition	Meaning
Subject–Verb Agreement	The verb must agree with the subject.
Easy Meaning	One subject → one verb form. Two subjects → different verb form.
Kid-Friendly Meaning	If the subject is one person/thing → verb ends with –s or –es. If more than one → verb stays normal.
Super Short Rule	Singular subject = Singular verb Plural subject = Plural verb

Think of it like wearing a pair of socks. Both must match!

Deep Explanation (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Identify the subject

Who or what is doing the action?

The dog barks.

Step 2: Identify the verb

What action is happening?

The dog barks.

Step 3: Make them agree

One dog = barks (verb ends with s)
Many dogs = bark

Dogs bark. ✔
The dog barks. ✔

If the subject is he, she, it, or singular noun, the verb usually ends in –s / –es.

But if the subject is I, you, we, they, or plural noun, the verb stays simple.

Examples Table (20+ Examples)

Subject	Verb	Correct Sentence
He	eats	He eats breakfast every morning.
She	plays	She plays the guitar.
It	rains	It rains a lot in winter.
The cat	sleeps	The cat sleeps on the sofa.
My mother	cooks	My mother cooks dinner.
A student	studies	A student studies English.
The boy	runs	The boy runs fast.
The teacher	teaches	The teacher teaches Maths.
The dog	barks	The dog barks loudly.
The baby	cries	The baby cries at night.
They	eat	They eat together.
We	play	We play football after school.
You	read	You read very well.
I	sing	I sing a song.
Birds	fly	Birds fly in the sky.
Cars	move	Cars move quickly.
Children	learn	Children learn new things.
People	walk	People walk on the road.
My friends	laugh	My friends laugh at jokes.
The stars	shine	The stars shine brightly.

Rules + Sentence Patterns

Rule 1 — Singular noun → verb + s/es

• The girl walks.
• The book falls.

Pattern: Noun (singular) + Verb-s

Rule 2 — Plural noun → verb without s

• The girls walk.
• The books fall.

Pattern: Noun (plural) + Verb

Rule 3 — He/She/It → verb + s

• He likes music.
• It looks beautiful.

Pattern: He/She/It + Verb-s

Rule 4 — I/You/We/They → base verb

• I go to school.
• They play cricket.

Pattern: I/You/We/They + Ver

Rule 5 — Use has with singular, have with plural

• She has a pencil.
• They have a car.

Rule 6 — Words like everyone, someone, nobody are singular

• Everyone is happy.
• Nobody was late.

Rule 7 — “and” makes the subject plural

• Tom and Jerry are best friends.

Rule 8 — When two subjects are joined by OR, choose the nearest

• Either the teacher or the students are speaking.
• Either the students or the teacher is speaking.

Why This Matters (Real Life Use)

Subject–Verb Agreement helps you:

✔ Speak correctly
✔ Write professional English
✔ Avoid embarrassing grammar mistakes
✔ Score better in exams
✔ Sound confident and smart!

People notice how you speak and write. Good grammar leaves a strong impression.

Common Mistakes + Fixes

Mistake	Correct Form
She go to school.	She goes to school.
They plays cricket.	They play cricket.
The boys runs fast.	The boys run fast.
I sings a song.	I sing a song.
He have a book.	He has a book.

Tip: Look at the subject FIRST, choose the verb AFTER.

Exercises (20 Questions)

A) Fill in the blanks with the correct verb

1. She ___ (eat) an apple.
2. They ___ (play) chess.
3. The bird ___ (fly).
4. We ___ (read) a book.
5. The sun ___ (shine).
6. I ___ (run) fast.
7. He ___ (walk) to school.
8. You ___ (write) well.
9. A cat ___ (sleep) on the roof.
10. Children ___ (sing) loudly.

B) Choose the correct option

11. My brother (like/likes) ice cream.
12. They (has/have) a car.
13. The girl (play/plays) violin.
14. We (is/are) friends.
15. Everyone (is/are) happy.

C) Make Your Own Sentences

Write 5 sentences showing correct subject–verb agreement:

Answer Key

1. eats
2. play
3. flies
4. read
5. shines
6. run
7. walks
8. write
9. sleeps
10. sing
11. likes
12. have
13. plays
14. are
15. is
    (16–20: Student’s own answers)

Mini Quiz (10 Questions)

No.	Question	Answer
1	He ___ (run/runs).	runs
2	We ___ happy.	are
3	The dog ___ loudly.	barks
4	I ___ a pencil.	have
5	They ___ early.	wake
6	She ___ to school daily.	goes
7	Birds ___ in the sky.	fly
8	The baby ___ crying.	is
9	My parents ___ kind.	are
10	Everyone ___ ready.	is

Story Builder

Continue this story using correct Subject–Verb Agreement:

A little girl walks into a garden. She sees colorful flowers. The birds ____ in the trees. A cat ____ near the bench. The girl ____ happy and picks a flower for her mother…

Let your imagination fly — make the story longer and magical! ✨

Summary of Learning

Today you learned:

✔ What Subject–Verb Agreement means
✔ The difference between singular & plural subjects
✔ Rules for He/She/It vs. I/You/We/They
✔ Common mistakes & how to correct them
✔ Exercises, quizzes, and a fun story activity

You are now better at English grammar — well done!